Freeholder Clerk Elaine Morgan installs new batteries in a microphone so Christine Florio can continue the mental health report.
Credits: By Jane Primerano

Lauren Hirtes, chair of the county mental health board, accepts a proclamation from Freeholder Gail Phoebus.
Credits: By Jane Primerano

NEWTON, NJ - Assemblyman Parker Space (R-24) accepted a lamp and a card from his former colleagues on the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders before the regular agenda began at the May 23 meeting.

Looking around at the full meeting room, Space said to Freeholder Director Richard Vohden, “You must be a more popular freeholder director than I was, because I never had so many people here.”

Many of the people were actually at the meeting to hear a report from the county mental health board. The mental health board provides services to children and adults with mental or drug abuse problems.

Melissa Latronic, director of community and youth services, said the report was the result of gathering data and applying it to the desired outcomes.

Christine Florio, who works under Latronic, explained this is actually a plan update started with a 2012 human services needs assessment. They had a focus group report on services as they saw them and reported a perception that there is a severe shortage of individual help. The mental health forum held in January attracted more than 60 participants including police, mental health service personnel, representatives of agencies and health care workers.

Dr. Debra Koss, chair of the mental health planning committee, said mental health services in the county concentrate on outreach, education, collaboration and advocacy.

“We are aware a lack of knowledge and stigma stand in the way of care,” Koss said.

She said the human services department funds any opportunity for education.

One of the concerns brought to light during a survey was that the average visit to a psychiatrist for medication management is only five minutes. Koss said the board must look at what needs to be accomplished in a medication management session. Latronic pointed out there is a shortage of psychiatrists in the county.

Koss also noted “in lean times we must be efficient.” But she said the department will concentrate on early intervention in care of children and teens.

Latronic said the department is working to link services to the rest of the community.

The freeholders also appointed Richard A. Laruffa to a vacancy on the Sussex County Community College Board of Trustees.

Laruffa will fill the unexpired term of Patrick Aramini.

In his brief thank you to the board, Laruffa said, “I believe the community college system is even more important now than in the past."

County Administrator John Eskilson complimented the freeholders, past and present, for keeping the board of trustees’ search process “truly independent.”

During the public portion, Helen Wilson LeFrois of the SCCC Foundation Board told the freeholders her board and the trustees held their first joint retreat. She said the foundation is expanding its role from just fundraising to raising awareness of the college. She said the foundation board is seeking out of county participation, since students come from Warren County, as well as Pike and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania.

SPARTA, NJ – A Newton man caught the attention of Sparta Cpl Rubino when he drove passed him on West Shore Trail with a broken license plate light. Alexis Obolensky was stopped in his gold Subaru on February 15 around 7:45 p.m., police report.

When the officer was stopping the 28-year-old driver he saw him flick a cigarette out the window. As Rubino spoke with him he smelled ...

SPARTA, NJ – Sparta High School wrestling will be on the mat in the District 3 tournament on Saturday at Don Bosco. The top three finishers in the tournament will move on to the regional tournament next week.

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Children of all ages played carnival games, had face painting and crafts, bounce house and obstacle ...

SPARTA,NJ – Several people with active warrants were picked up by Sparta Police this week. On February 12 around noon, Sparta Police Officer Christopher Favaro stopped Newark resident Alex Nunes-Ramalho, 23, for broken break lights on his gold Chevy Impala.

Nunes-Ramalho told Favaro that he did not have his wallet with him. Instead, the driver showed the officer a ...

WATCHUNG, NJ - Recently, Troop 95 from Sparta competed in the Watchung District Klondike. A Klondike is a competition in which Boy Scout patrols compete in fire building, wilderness survival, first-aid, tomahawk throwing, knots & lashings and orienteering, all while pushing a sled filled with 100 pounds of the gear needed for the challenges.

SPARTA, NJ – A Newton man caught the attention of Sparta Cpl Rubino when he drove passed him on West Shore Trail with a broken license plate light. Alexis Obolensky was stopped in his gold Subaru on February 15 around 7:45 p.m., police report.

When the officer was stopping the 28-year-old driver he saw him flick a cigarette out the window. As Rubino spoke with him he smelled ...

SPARTA,NJ – Several people with active warrants were picked up by Sparta Police this week. On February 12 around noon, Sparta Police Officer Christopher Favaro stopped Newark resident Alex Nunes-Ramalho, 23, for broken break lights on his gold Chevy Impala.

Nunes-Ramalho told Favaro that he did not have his wallet with him. Instead, the driver showed the officer a ...

NEWTON, NJ—One man was injured, while three others escaped unharmed when a two-family two story apartment house caught fire on Saturday. On January 27 at around 6:26 a.m. Newton Police received a 9-1-1 call from a passerby reporting a house on fire. Patrols immediately responded to the area and found a structure fire at 75 Trinity Street police report..

PATERSON, NJ- The City of Paterson has given birth to famous athletes, business leaders, actors, and now, a poet laureate.

Born and raised in Paterson, Talena Lachelle Queen told TAPinto Paterson that she has been writing since she was five-years old, and, as she grew older, realized that when it came to pursuing studies and a career in writing, she “didn’t have a choice.” ...

The tragedy of the Florida school shooting is devastating, leaving 17 killed and 15 injured. Our children can easily identify with what occurred yesterday. It will be the topic of conversation today in schools everywhere. School administrators are doing all they can to provide support and guidance. The shootings affect children, teachers, and school personnel. The school shooting ...

According to the National Association of REALTORS most recent Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, married couples once again dominated the first-time homebuyer statistics in 2017 at 57% of all buyers. Team Nest Builder knows it's no surprise that having two incomes to save for down payments and contribute to monthly housing costs makes buying a home more ...

Researchers in China studying the consumption of “burning” hot tea, alcohol, and smoking habits of greater than 450,000 people ages 30 –79 for more than nine years found a five time greater risk of esophageal cancer in those who engaged in all three of the behaviors and a two time greater risk in those who either smoked or drank alcohol and consumed burning hot tea as compared ...

Breaking Atlantic Health System news on this week’s AtlantiCast! Plus, find out why Morristown Medical Center is one of the best hospitals in the nation when it comes to recovering from joint surgery, see the newest center for fighting brain cancer and an Atlantic Health System red-carpet premiere!